This story take place roughly two weeks after Rachel sends Tim a certain letter during the events of FINDING MY WAY. , in which Falcon has left Gotham City and her relationship with Robin to persue her own life, and before A WORLD WITHOUT TEEN TITANS.

---

Batman's fist connected in one switch strike, causing Robin doubled over his mentor's arm without a sound. The Dark Knight had instinctively struck him after he exhaled, with a blow intended to make his diaphragm spasm. Though he couldn't breathe, to Robin's credit he did manage toe vade the next three strikes and dodged several of Batman's more difficult kicks. But it it was short lived before falling to his knees signaling to his mentor that was finished.

Batman had been going insanely easy on Tim, but his punches still hurt like hell

"Robin, you aren't keeping you concentration," the Dark Knight stated in a low and furious growl. To anyone who didn't know him, one would think Batman was pissed off. But Tim Drake who had been working along side of the fabled Bat knew better. He could hear the slight concern laced behind the dark voice.

"I'm (huff)... fine..." he said, trying to regain his breathing. "Just a bit... (gasp) tired."

Batman looked down at his junior partner, definently not convinced. Tim had been doing his job just a good as ever. In fact, Tim had been spending a bit more time on patrol and training than he normally would. Normally Batman would be a bit proud to see Tim putting such effort into his work, except for the fact that he had noticed Tim in a more somber mood for a while now. It wasn't anything that interfered with his duties as Robin, but it still concerned him none the less.

"Fine," Batman said finally. "Hit the showers and you can call it a night."

"What about you boss?" Tim asked.

"I'm heading back into the city. There's rumors of Killer Croc acting up on the westside."

"Are you sure you dont' need some help?" Tim asked, finally getting to his feet, while trying to hide the pain he felt in his diaphram.

"No," came the flat reply. "You go home and get some rest."

Robin watched as his mentor walked down towards the vehicle bay, without another word. "Um... alright. Cool. See ya, Bruce." A few moments later Tim could hear one of the Batmobile's engines roar to life and speed out of the cave, followed by the screches frightened the cave's hundreds of bats.

Giving a sigh, the Boy Wonder walked over towards a bench near by the training areana and pulled a reached for a towel and bottle of water. Popping the cap, Tim took a swig of the water and then wiped his mouth with the towel.

Frankly he had been hoping that Batman would invite him along, but he was right. Tim needed a rest a bit. After the things going on with the Teen Titans and his normal duty and training with Batman, Tim had been stretching himself a tad thin.

He was trying to keep himself busy.

Peeling the mask off his face and removing his cape, Tim reached into his his utility belt and pulled out a folded yet un-opened white envelope. From Rachel.

Nearly six months since Rachel 'Falcon' Simmions had left. Nearly six months since their fight. And this was the first sort of communication they had since then. He knew he should open it, but he honestly didn't want to.

"Master Timothy?" called a voice.

Tim looked up to see Alfred Pennyworth, the Wayne Butler and team grandfather figure stepping down the staircase.

"Hey Alfie," Tim said. "What up?"

"Simply checking to see if Master Bruce has left."

The Boy Wonder nodded. "Yeah, he's gone. Left a minute ago."

"And you did not go with him?" Alfred asked.

"Naw... Bruce benched me for tonight."

Alfred opened his mouth to say something, but was paused as something caught his eyes. The letter that Miss Rachel has sent. Alfred knew what it was because he had hand delivered it to Timothy himself.

"You haven't opened it yet?"

Robin looked at Alfred and then ducked his head slighly. "Um... no. Not yet."

>>Awww....poor Timmy. ....Ecen I feel sorry for him......and this was part of my idea! Bad Rachael! Bad!<<

Alfred nodded slightly. He fought back the urge to murmmer 'Young Love'.

"Timothy," Alfred began finally. "I understand that your realationship with Miss Rachel hadn't gone as you had wish. Love rarely does, my boy. But you honestly owe it to yourself to read that letter."

Tim sighed. Sometimes he hated it when Alfred got all deep and insightful. "I know... its just..."

"You are afraid of what she might have to say," the Wayne Butler supplied.

"Yeah... kinda."

Alfred nodded, and placed a gentle hand on Tim's shoulder. "I can understand your feelings, Master Timothy. But you can't avoid this."

"I really don't know why she wrote..." Tim said slightly spitefully.

"You will only find out by reading the letter, my boy." With that, Alfred turned and returned upstairs to Wayne Manor.

Tim sat alone for a long time, before reaching for the pocket knife in his utility belt. In one swift gesture the Boy Wonder had ripped open the envelope and pulled out the folded piece of white paper.

Taking a deep breath, Tim began to read...

Dear Tim,

This has been hard to write and it's taken me awhile to muster up the courage too. I've gone through seven drafts contemplating whether or not to tell you how many drafts I've gone through. But it's finnaly dawned on me that it can't be put off any longer. And I'm up till four am writing this cause I can't sleep till I do.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry for yelling at you. I'm sorry for not telling you till the last second. And, most of all, I'm sorry I've been gone for so long, expecting that we could go back to the way we were before when I got back. I'm sorry for keeping you hanging for so long.

I've moved on. I just kissed another guy and... I really care for him. He reminds me of you, despite the fact he's so different. Lonely. Needing someone to hold onto....so thats why I've finnaly decided to tell you its time you moved on. I just realized it was my time as well.

I still love you Tim. I probably always will. If I've heard it once, I've heard it a million times before. You never forget your first love. No matter what I do, you'll still be close to my heart. I only want you to be happy though. So move on. Find someone that I know you'll be able to love. Probably more than you ever loved me. You deserve at least that much.

You deserve to be happy. You deserve to have someone better than me(I'm working really hard at my bad habbit of beating myself up, honest. But its true), to live it up a little, to have something done for you since your always doing for everyone else. So I'm letting you go.
Your free.

I know I wasn't your first love, more like the third, so hopefully it will be easier for you to soon forget me and any pain I've caused all together.
Just one last favor: Lighten up every once in awhile. Don't be afraid to show the real you under thats mask. I now know from first hand experience howmuch it kills not to.

Love always,
Rachael

Tim sat for a long time, the only sound heard being the screeches of the Bats and the hum of the Bat-computer.

Tim sat in silence for a long time. The memories of the final conversation he had with Rachel six months ago came flooding back to him. So did the painful yet numb feeling like someone had not only punching him in the chest, but did the mexican hat dance on his fallen body.

At last his body made movement as he clenched his fist tightly, crumpling the letter in it. He lept to his feet and threw Rachel's version of a 'Dear Jonh' letter at the foot of the staircase leading up to the Manor.

He knew long ago that their relationship had been over. But it hadn't been until that very moment that it really hit him.

Well if that was how she was going to be: FINE.

Robin reached for his cape and mask and set them back on. Batman always said not to fight angry.

Alright, he wouldn't.

But they had a state of the art holographic training room which was going to get some serious use tonight.

Cassandra stretched as she opened the clock to the batcave. She had been working a forty eight hour case and had slept it off, much to Alfreds dismay, on the couch in the casual living room.

She stopped at the top of the stairs as she saw Tim angrily crumple a piece of paper and throw it at the foot of the stairs, then storm off for the holo training room.

He was extremely upset. She didn't need to have the ability of reading body language to tell that. And she didn't have to read his body language to know what , more likely, whom it was about. Rachael. ...Both were good friends of hers.......probably the only Teenage contact she had ever had other than her once friend Steph.

After she was sure he was gone, she curiusly made her way down the stares and gently picked up the letter, staring at the page for a long moment.

It was of no use. She couldn't read.

She thought about bringing it to Oracle but..." no....Personal. Not...'polite'." Instead, she straightened it out as best as she could and and folded it up neatly, putting it in her utility belt......she had a feeling Tim might change his mind and want it back later.

She stalked down to the Training room and peered in on Robin to see, through his body movements, what might be going through his head at this moment....and maybe give her an idea of how to help. She had to help somehow.

Ever the silent knight, she watched on from the darkness,

Robin entered the training areana, and went over to the computer console. His hands began setting up a level 4 training progam and soon then struck the enter key. Robin then went over to what appeared to be a very complext and slightly out of place stereo system. It had been something Dick has installed, since he liked to work out to music at time.

Robin reached for a leather CD case a place the loudest music CD that was there. Music exploded from the surround sound speakers as strode purposefully into the center.

"Begin program."

Without dozens of holes appeared in the center of the room and long metalic pillars leapt up. The second the pillars were extended, small pannels open and began to fire laser blasts at Robin only to drop back into the ground a second later. The Boy Wonder dodged and weaved the lazers, executing complex attacks. The instant the his fist struck the pillar, the laser turent would close and the pillare would drop back into a ground.

In short Robin was running a highly complex and rather dangerous version of 'wack-a-mole'. Robin would dodge and flip and weave in and out of the lazers, never slowing down for an instant. His breath was hard and every now and again it seemed as if a strained word or phrase exscaped his lips.

He was hurting. There was no denying that. And he was doing everything he could to avoid that hurt but replacing it with weariness and another sort of pain.

All the while, completely unaware of his audience.

Cassandra watched intently as he battle the Training program.
His pride, his pain, his anger......it was intense. And she felt sorry for her friend.

She thought about stepping out into the light, but she could tell by his body movements that he didn't want to be interuppted. And the likely hood was that it wouldn't turn out well.

Her ees observed his movements and.....an idea poped into her head. She grinned and pulled out her com-link. Oracle would know what to do. And over the music, she knew full well she wouldn't be heard.....

"Barbara?" Cassandra had an idea, but it would need Oracles help.

>>So which one of us are going play Oracle?<<

>>I am! Just had to finish up the post.....lunch was about to burn...<.< <<

(lol. Then I await Oracle's response. Timmy is busy training himself into a coma. LOL. ^_^ )

>>Got it ^^ BTW, found a bunch of good articles about breaking in as a writer at Devin Graysons site: www.Devingrayson.com ~Starts obsessively writting plot outline proposal for dc for comic con.... (Not really....but I should ;) )~ Bwahahaha! <<

"What you need Cas?" Babs said , already at her computer and ready.

But the reply that came back was mixed in with the sound of intolerably loud music pounding in the background.

"~Sigh~ cass, I can't hear you over....what ever that is in the background......jeeze, it sounds like one of Dicks cds. Just turn it down or something."
_-_-_-_-_-_

Cass looked over at the VERY expensive Stereo system and quietly slipped her way back out of the room and closed the sound proof doors.

"Good. My ears applaude you Now, repeat what you just said." Babs said from her side of the line.

"Robin...Sad about breakup with Falcon. Want to help him get a date." Cassandra said, proud of her discission and set on it.

Babs groaned. "Cass, it doesn't work like that. Tim just needs time to heal before he moves on or thinks about dating again. He can't just rebond so quickly."

"What's 'rebound'?" Cassandra blinked, confused. Then shaked the thought off. "Robin not find someone to date. You find. Your Oracle."

Blind date......Babs was going to have a time talking her out of this one

"Cass--" Babs looked at a nearby screen that conveinetly showed Tims near suicidal training regimin. He definitely needed someone to keep him from driving him over the edge it seemed lately......last thing he needed was to turn into Batman. She sighed and slumped in her chair. "That actually might be a good idea..."

"What might be a good idea?" Oracles head snapped in the direction of the noise. Dang. Managed to get through her security system again.....time for an update.

>>I assume that's Nightwing's cue. And thanks for the Devin Grayson thing. That should prove useful... Excellent...:D <<

Watchtower...

"Hey Babs," Nightwing grinned devishily as he stepped over the threshold. "Those tazer devises on level six are loosing their charges. Ya might want to replace them."

He ignored Barbara's slightyly annoyed look, but gave her a playful kiss on the top of her head. "So I ask again M'lady Gordon: What would be a good idea?"

---

Batcave...

Robin's muscles were screaming in pain. He didn't care. He just kept pushing himself hard. The sweat poored down his face and he didn't wipe it away. He kept going.

Kick, punch, block, kick, jump, dodge, punch.

>>Welcome. ~reads through articles on breaking in~ Phase one of DC take over complete!~Sends off inquirey letter~<<

Barb sighed after giving Dick her version of 'the look', to no use what so ever. "Batgirl trying to convice me to fix Tim up on a blind date...." babs looked over at the nearby screen. "He's taking the breakup really hard.......Kids gonna get him killed in there at this rate..."

Dick looked at the screen and grimaced.

Nightwing never told anyone about what had happened the night before Rachel had left. It had been strictly between two brothers. But he had seen what Rachel had done to Tim. How rejected and hurt Tim had felt. Rachel had gone to 'find herself' which everyone could understand. But the fact that she had decided at the last minute to tell Robin had really hurt.

Whatever had happened must have been another nail in the coffin for the emotional current Boy Wonder.

He could remember doing the same thing when Barbara had turned down his feeling back when they were still Batgirl and Robin.

"Babs... I don't know... Did YOU feel like going on blind dates... well EVER, much less after a break-up." He looked around hoping that Cassandra wasn't in the room. "And well... Cass isn't exactly what you could consider an expert on relationship..."

"Hey!" Cassandra yelped out at Dicks comment from her side of the comlink, and Babs put it on mute so Cass couldn't hear.

Babs shot Dick a glare. "Dick, I have a photographic memory. I can tell you what the sum of 2.0032141X5.7072143 is in less than fifteen second. Ten if I've had a good nights rest and a large cup of caffiene satuarated coffee. So I'm not an idiot. I know Cass' idea definitely.....leaves much to be desired....But, gosh Dick, look at him. Does he really look like he shouldn't have some cheering up....maybe a tablespoon of humbleness too......" She said calmy and turned back to the screen showing Cass looking mad at being cut off, looking at a nearby camera with her arms crossed and lips pouting. "It's been nearly six months. Someone should nip this thing in the bud.....Annnnnd I can't believe I just said that."

Babs looked back up at dick. "Hey, c'mon. Its not like we haven't interferred in EITHER of their lives before.....or do you forget that bet we had about a year ago?"

"Did you just say... 'Nip this thing in the bud'?" Dick asked. "Man... I better call the Manor. I think Alfred might have died and you're channeling him."

Babs looked back up at Dick. "Hey, c'mon. Its not like we haven't interferred in EITHER of their lives before.....or do you forget that bet we had about a year ago?"

"Hey that doesn't count... completely... And honestly, I think Tim has been humbled enough by things lately," Dick mumbled, remember Tim's near breakdown.

"But I guess you do have a point. Tim's been carrying a tourch for Rachel since she left. Time for him to really move on." Dick could only hope this didn't come back to bite them in the arse latter on.

"Okay... so who do you ladies have in mind for the down trodden Boy Wonder?"

>>'nip this in the bud'....I was laughing so hard when I wrote that...Inside joke<<

Babara pressed a button and a small green light was seen as Cassandra let out a huff. "Don't like being cut off."

"Tough luck kid. So heres the deal: Yes, fine. We'll hook up Bird boy on a blind date ....BUT not completely blind...."

Babs brought up a small file on Cissie king Jones. "One, she already knows who im is. Two, shes an ex teammate and a Friend of Tims...he might actualy find he has a good time."

Clocktower...

Nightwing leaned down to look at the photo of Cissie King-Jones. He hadn't really known the former Arrowette, that well, only seeing her from time to time when Tim worked with Young Justice. Rumor around the Hero's was that she was somewhat linked with the Green Arrow Oliver Queen, (i.e. Daughter.)

Subect: Cisseilia King-Jones
(Formerly Arrowette II)

"She's cute..." he said with an appraising smile. "Not a bad choice. We definently could do worse." His mind fell onto someone like Flamebird to set Tim up with, and he couldn't help grimace at the thought.

Even HE wouldn't be that cruel.

He paused for a moment as a thought hit him. "Um girls, New problem. Who's going to convince Tim and Cissie to go on this little... experiment?"

---

Batcave...

Robin kept dodgin the pillars and lazer blasts that kept firing on him. If anyone were still watching him, the could see that he was starting to slow down. Several lazers had cut through his cape and a bit of his hair had been singed.

"ARGH!" Robin yelped as a lazer struck him in the arm, leaving a small welt on his exposed skin. Another lazer struck Tim in the back, knocking him foward allowing another lazer to hit him in the side.

"Subject: ROBIN has been defeated. Sequence terminated." The multiple pillars dropped into the floor vanishing from sight, just as Tim fell to the ground. He wasn't hurt badly, but he would be sporting a few bruises for the next day or so.

Tim let out a sigh. He hated defeat and today, he'd experienced it too much.

Both women, one on the monitor and the other in person, looked at nightwing expectantly.

"Please..." Cass said, give puppy dog eyes. Dinah had taught her well :rolleyes:

>>Holy crud Batman! Sorry. Scheduling for the last few hours for the comic con.......jeez, so much to do! Hopefully I have TIME to get my portfolio reviewed -_- Geoff Johns, Michael Turner, Peter David, Stann Lee, Scott McCloud JIM Lee(all cept turner have work shops) Jeph Leob, and Greg Rucka, and then I recently talked w/ T. Nauck at Digital Webbing and he said to stop by the Image booth and he'll give my portfolio a critique. Ahahahahah! I'm going to take a note book and take notes on everything! And, if they talk to fast: tape recorder. Work shops, discussion panels, lectures(One on a comicbook college they're opening. I kid you not), orientation, sneak peaks, award shows, and smallville cast and produsers, and producers of Batman begins, and portfolio reviews. Busy!
Only downside is that Bill Willingham will be there..... :angry: <<

>>Curse you! I'm so jealous! I wanna go to comic con!<<

Nightwing's eyes went wide and he looked at the two women who held the Batgirl title at some point in their lives.

"Aww hell no. NO!" he said loudly backing away from Oracle and the computer screen with Cass's image on it. "I know what you are thinking and the answer is NO. Ah... AH!" he pulled back his long shaggy black hair and closed his eyes as if trying to block out some bright blinding light.

"AND STOP DOING THE PUPPY DOG POUT! THAT'S NOT FAIR! ILLEGAL USE OF EYES!"

>> :D

Barbara rolled her eyes and rolled over to him. "Dick. It's NOT like we're asking you to get a sex change.......Just TALK to him. He'd underSTAND it coming from you." She crossed her arms and looked down at Dick and shook her head. He could be so....

The second he looked up she flashed her own pleading eyes and he cquinched his eyes shut once again. She suppressed a laugh.

CLOCKTOWER...

"FINE!" Nightwing consented loudly. "But you two owe me BIG TIME!"

The Bludhaven hero flopped down on a nearby couch and sighed. "I knew I should have just stay back in the 'haven..." he grumbled. "So which one of you is going to convince blondie about about this little scheme?"

---

BATCAVE...

Tim walked out of training arena dress in civilian clothes again, and his black hair was damp with water after his shower. Both his fists were wrapped in bandages as his training program had brusies his knuckes and cased a slight bit of bleeding. Nothing major though.

He paused as he noticed Batgirl standing nearby.

"Hey Cass," he said half-heartedly. "What's going on?"

"....Nothing....Just.....leaving." Cassandra said, walking past Tim with a small smile. "Patrol."

_-_-_-_-_-_

"I'll get in touch wit cassandra sandsmark...Wondergirkl, in a bit. See if maybe she could help us out." Babs said, giving Dick a consoling kiss on the forehead before rolling back to ther computers.

Let the meddling begin...

CLOCKTOWER...

Dick sighed. "Women..."

He went towards the open window and fired a D-Cell line to a nearby building. Considering how late it was and the current state Tim was in, it might be best of he talked to Robin tomorrow night about this... scheme.

---

BATCAVE...

Tim looked ast Batgirl quizically. She was up to something.

But he simply gave a shrug and headed towards the vehicle vault to get his motor-cycle.

>>So what now?<<

(Well, we could try to get Lani involved to have Wonder Girl talk to Cissie.

I plan to have Nightwing drop the bomb on Robin during a night of patrol. That should be a fun conversation. Thoughts?)

>>Nah. I'm thoughtless at the moment.....wait aminute.....that didn't come out right.....<<

>>Do you want to PM Lani and ask if she wants to join in?<<

>>Sure. I'll do it right now.....have to go in a few seconds though.....three more hours of drawing to do.....~Stupid freaking schedule......Wrapping up portfolio......hand hurts....<<

>>Thats cool. HAVE FUN! It gives me a chance to finish my post for 'A world...' :D ::robin:: <<

*MWAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!! The QG ALMOST WORLD OWNER IS UPON YOU!!
And you know...postie goodness avalable
*SOB*
Why not Greta?!! WHYYY!!! WWWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHYYYYYY!!!*

**Because Greta is too obvious of a choice. We wanted to set Tim up with someone he didn't expect. Not Spoiler, not Batgirl, not Secret. Someone people wouldn't normally expect. LOL**

*Stupid non expectancy thing.
One day!! you wait Alan! ONE DAY!!
They shall be on a date type thing!!
And what am i doing here??*

***Hey we can try that later on. Tim's single. This is therapy for him, remember? And Lani, we need Wonder Girl to help set up the date between Cissie and Robin. ^_^ Thats your cure. :D ***

~Pats lani on the back~ S'kay Lani, Suzie will get her chance.....Or WILL she? .......Bweheheh......<<

*So she gets a call then from Babs? then freaks out and talks to Cass??
Susie will never go out with Tim.....For her name is GRETA!!
^_^ If your never gonna fullfill her wish at least don't mess up her name;)*

>>Sorry. Wrote that in a hurry. I know its Greta.....But I've been reading my old Yj comics and theres an overload of her being named suzie.<<

*Thats cool, PM me what you want me to do, who's gonna call then, any reasons etc etc??*

>>Nah. S'okay. I'll just go ahead and post so wondy can come in (I.E.: I'm done procrastenating)<<

NEXT DAY. PHASE ONE of opperation Blind Date.

Babs stretched her fingers and set to typing, hooking up a link with Wondergirls T-Terminal. If she had figureed this out correctly, Cassandra Sandsmark should be out of class by this time. "Wondergirl? This is Oracle." came the electronic voice.

Lonely Day
PHANTOM PLANET

I could tell from the minute I woke up
It was going to be a lonely lonely
lonely lonely day.

Rise and shine rub the sleep out of my eyes
And try to tell myself I can't
go back to bed
It's gonna be a lonely lonely lonely lonely day.

Even though the sun is shining down on me and I should feel
about as happy as can be
I just got here and I already want to leave
It's gonna be a lonely lonely lonely lonely day

Everybody knows that something's wrong
But nobody knows what's going on
We all sing the same old song
When you want it all to go away
It's shaping up to be a lonely day

I could tell from the minute I woke up it was going to be a
lonely lonely lonely lonely day.'

---

::robin:: Tim grunted slightly as he sat at his penthouse apartment window. It was too early to go out on patrol, and with it being summer vacation there wasn't much else to do. His father and step-mother had gone out to dinner together, leaving Tim to himself.

Honestly that was fine with him. All day, Dana and his father had been asking 'whats wrong?' He was thankful for their concern, but the fact was there wasn't much he could tell them.

'Oh nothing much, just trying to get over the fact that my ex-girlfriend, someone I thought cared about me, left so she can train to be a strong vigilante, and just now after 6 months of no communicaiton sent me a break-up letter, and I'm not sure how to take things since I haven't been sure what our relationship has been since she left.'

Oh yeah... that's great family conversation...

"Achem."

Tim was shaken out of this thoughts and looked up to see Nightwing holding himself upsidedown using a d-cell line.

"What are you doing here?" Tim asked.

"Oh, just in the neighborhood..." Dick Grayson replied lamely. "Thought you might want to hit the streets and kick some scumbags around?"

Tim allowed a small half-smile. "Let me get dressed."

As Tim went back inside, Nightwing gave a sigh.

"Babs, you SO owe me..."